Southern Indiana Living NovDec 2018

A Season of Giving
A Thoughtful Gift
D
orrel Harrison didn’t know Dr.
Bill McDonald and his family,
but when the Scottsburg artisan
learned about the extraordinary
life and tragic death of the Hardinsburg
veterinarian, he knew he wanted to do
something for the McDonald family.
After Dr. Bill, 47, died Jan. 29 in an accident
at his home, there was an outpouring
of accounts of the doctor’s selfless service
to his community and family. When
a friend related some of these stories to
Harrison, he was moved to reach out to
the McDonalds.
That is when he thought about the Luke
family and what he had done for them.
“Two years ago, I was a Santa Claus
to the Lukes in East Hoosick, New York,”
said Harrison. “Burt Luke, a longtime
neighbor in upstate New York, died in
the spring of that year. The Lukes had
six children and I had all of them in my
health classes.”
Harrison, formerly of Hoosick, retired in
2000 after 33 years teaching and moved to
Indiana with his wife, Kathy, to be closer
to their son, a UPS pilot.
When he heard that his former students
had lost their father, Harrison wanted to
do something for them — and he knew
just the thing. “Shortly after moving to
Indiana, I had begun crafting three-dimensional
barn plaques out of recycled
wood,” he said.
That, he decided, would be something
the Lukes — a farm family — would like.
He created six framed plaques with the
siblings’ memories of their farm and barn.
And just before Christmas, his son took
the gifts to New York on a UPS flight.
“It was such a blessing to extend my
love,” Harrison said.
So when he was looking for something
to do for the McDonald family, Harrison
remembered these earlier gifts.
“Even though I didn’t know the McDonalds,
from what I had heard about them, I
decided they would appreciate plaques in
Dr. Bill’s memory,” he said.
On May 16, Dorrel and Kathy Harrison
met with the McDonalds, and in an informal
ceremony, presented plaques that picture
the veterinarian clinic, which opened
in 1995, shortly after Bill McDonald graduated
from Purdue University.
“Even without knowing him,” Harrison
Nov/Dec 2018 • 44
Artist honors veterinarian with handmade plaques
said, he realized from stories of Dr. Bill’s
dedication to his patients and their owners
that “the practice and building must
have meant a great deal to him.
“Every building has a story that consists
of many hours and activities which
take place within its walls,” Harrison told
them. “I am saddened at your family’s
loss and no words can express your sorrow
and feelings. My prayer is that this
tangible framed plaque of Bill’s practice
will remind you of those special memories
(of times) which you were blessed
with while Bill was with you.”
Plaques were presented to Dr. McDonald’s
wife, Lindsay; his parents, Jim and
Barbara McDonald; and siblings, Susan
Umpleby and Bob McDonald. There was
also a plaque for his brother, David Mc-
Donald, who was not able to attend the
Story by Sara Combs
Photo by Karen Hanger
“My prayer is that this tangible framed plaque
of Bill’s practice will remind you of those
special memories (of times) which you were
blessed with while Bill was with you.”
- Dorrel Harrison
ceremony.
The family received the plaques with
gratitude and plan to see that each of Bill’s
children, Jacob, Madelyn and Joseph, will
have one when they are adults.
Besides being sole owner of McDonald
Veterinarian Clinic, Dr. Bill was part
owner and active in South Central Collision
Center, a family-owned operation.
He also, with his father and brother, Bob,
worked a 1,500-acre beef cattle farm. He
served on the local school board; was active
at Paoli Christian Church; and volunteered
at the Orange County Humane
Society, Southern Indiana Animal Rescue,
the 4-H Club, Paoli High School FFA and
the school’s SuperMileage Club. •
Pictured: Dorrel and Kathy Harrison, Bob, Barbara, and
Lindsay McDonald, Susan McDonald Umpleby and Jim
McDonald